The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has said the establishment of universities with the wrong template for funding is one of the factors responsible for the falling standard of tertiary education.

He stated this while delivering a paper at the 14th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture, organised by the National Association of Seadogs, in Benin at the weekend.

The ASUU President also noted that the method of appointment and recruitment into state-owned universities by the government has also contributed to the problem.

Osedeke said that the rot in the university education of the country started during the Shehu Shagari and Babagida’s administrations, but suggested that there should be a paradigm shift, in terms of funding, governance and interference from political groups and vested interest in order for Nigerian universities to return to their pride of place.